Is the ATA worth joining?
The answer depends on how you want to spend your money. The ATA, one could argue, does not offer much for its membership fees. On the one hand, many translators seem to feel that participating in the local chapter organizations gives them far more of what they need and choose not to join the ATA. There are plenty of translators, however, who enjoy and seem to benefit from their ATA membership. If you plan to take the ATA accreditation exam, you will have to join. If you are new to the profession, you might find better uses for your money, at least until you are more established.
